Apple Rumored to Join Russian Research and Development Facility

According to Russian language news outlet Izvestia, Skolkovo representatives are looking to bring industry heavyweights such as Apple, Google, Facebook, Symantec, and others to the technology park in hopes of creating a high-tech research community similar to that of California’s Silicon Valley. Apple along with a handful of other tech companies are said to be in the talks with Russia’s Skolkovo Innovation Center building research facilities in the organization’s “Technopark.” This is the heart of a large initiative looking to bring high tech innovators into the country.

There are a few companies which are already signed up to the project including Cisco, General Electric, IBM, and Microsoft but it is said that more investors are needed to fulfill the over $60 million needed to build the multi-building R&D center. According to Skolkovo Operating Director for Key partners, Roman Romanovsky, the program needs to include 30 to 50 large companies for the technology park to be successful. Despite the typical “no comment” from Apple representatives, Romanovsky said both parties are interested in negotiations which are being worked on.

Skolkovo IT research facilities will be one of six “clusters” in the technology park along with R&D centers for nuclear tech, space tech, biotech, energy efficiency and post start-up. It will be an immense undertaking and will become a city unto its own complete with a public square, retail plaza, multi-use event halls and even an indoor ice skating rink. Most of the buildings in the “smart city” will be created of giant glass structures connected by wide landscaped walkaways. Over 190,000 square meters of land have been allotted for condo space, houses, and villas.

As of right now, it’s unclear whether Apple is taking part in the Russian venture but the Cupertino California company has shown interest in international R&D with its acquisition of flash memory maker Anobit. We’ll have to wait and see what Apple decides to do.